Iago uses Othello's race against him to manipulate others and further his plans for revenge in Shakespeare's play Othello. Iago tells Desdemona's father that it is impossible for her to truly love Othello due to his race. Iago also tells Roderigo that Desdemona could not possibly be in love with Othello, playing on Roderigo's jealousy and racism to manipulate him. Throughout the play, Iago depicts Othello as less than human due to his race to gain power over others and advance his schemes.

1. By: Roberto Galvez

2. Quotes
“I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and
the Moor are {now} making the beast with two backs.” (I.i
Page 15. 129-131 )
“What a {full} fortune does the {thick-lips} owe If he can
carry’t thus!” (I.i. Pg 11.72-73)
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping
your white ewe.” (I.i. Pg.13. 97-98)
“Because we come to do you service and you think we are
ruffians, you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary
horse, you’ll have your nephews neigh to you, you’ll have
coursers for cousins and jennets for Germans (I.i. Page 15.
123-127)

3. In the book “Othello” racism plays a major role. An
example of this is Iago. Iago uses racism to his
advantage to make Othello seem as something
miserable and that he should be treated as an animal.
An example of this is when Iago tells Desdemona’s
father that it is impossible for her to fall in love with
Othello because of his race ,and that it could have
been a spell that Othello used upon her. This shows
how Othello’s race was seen as something not
desirable.

4. A way that Iago used racism to his advantage was
when he found out that Roderigo was in love with
Desdemona. He told him that there was no way that
Desdemona was in love with Othello because of his
race and that she secretly met with Cassio. That the
only way that he could be with Desdemona was by
eliminating his obstacle which was Cassio.
“Blessed fig’s end! The wine she drinks is made of
grapes. If she had been blessed, she would have never
have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou not
see her paddle with the palm of his hand? Didst not
mark that?” (II.i. Pg.77. 273-277)

5. Self-Reflective Question
What would happen if Othello had been white?
What kind of twist would there be in the story line if
Iago would have not been racist against Othello?
Did racism have a greater impact on Othello than his
jealousy?